TY - JOUR

T1 - Madagascar's extraordinary biodiversity: Threats and opportunities

AU - Ralimanana, Hélène

AU - Perrigo, Allison L

AU - Smith, Rhian J

AU - Borrell, James S

AU - Faurby, Søren

AU - Rajaonah, Mamy Tiana

AU - Randriamboavonjy, Tianjanahary

AU - Vorontsova, Maria S

AU - Cooke, Robert S C

AU - Phelps, Leanne N

AU - Sayol, Ferran

AU - Andela, Niels

AU - Andermann, Tobias

AU - Andriamanohera, Andotiana M

AU - Andriambololonera, Sylvie

AU - Bachman, Steven P

AU - Bacon, Christine D

AU - Baker, William J

AU - Belluardo, Francesco

AU - Birkinshaw, Chris

AU - Cable, Stuart

AU - Canales, Nataly A

AU - Carrillo, Juan D

AU - Clegg, Rosie

AU - Clubbe, Colin

AU - Crottini, Angelica

AU - Damasco, Gabriel

AU - Dhanda, Sonia

AU - Edler, Daniel

AU - Farooq, Harith

AU - de Lima Ferreira, Paola

AU - Fisher, Brian L

AU - Forest, Félix

AU - Gardiner, Lauren M

AU - Goodman, Steven M

AU - Grace, Olwen M

AU - Guedes, Thaís B

AU - Hackel, Jan

AU - Henniges, Marie C

AU - Hill, Rowena

AU - Lehmann, Caroline E R

AU - Lowry, Porter P

AU - Marline, Lovanomenjanahary

AU - Matos-Maraví, Pável

AU - Moat, Justin

AU - Neves, Beatriz

AU - Nogueira, Matheus G C

AU - Onstein, Renske E

AU - Papadopulos, Alexander S T

AU - Perez-Escobar, Oscar A

AU - Phillipson, Peter B

AU - Pironon, Samuel

AU - Przelomska, Natalia A S

AU - Rabarimanarivo, Marina

AU - Rabehevitra, David

AU - Raharimampionona, Jeannie

AU - Rajaonary, Fano

AU - Rajaovelona, Landy R

AU - Rakotoarinivo, Mijoro

AU - Rakotoarisoa, Amédée A

AU - Rakotoarisoa, Solofo E

AU - Rakotomalala, Herizo N

AU - Rakotonasolo, Franck

AU - Ralaiveloarisoa, Berthe A

AU - Ramirez-Herranz, Myriam

AU - Randriamamonjy, Jean Emmanuel N

AU - Randrianasolo, Vonona

AU - Rasolohery, Andriambolantsoa

AU - Ratsifandrihamanana, Anitry N

AU - Ravololomanana, Noro

AU - Razafiniary, Velosoa

AU - Razanajatovo, Henintsoa

AU - Razanatsoa, Estelle

AU - Rivers, Malin

AU - Silvestro, Daniele

AU - Testo, Weston

AU - Torres Jiménez, Maria F

AU - Walker, Kim

AU - Walker, Barnaby E

AU - Wilkin, Paul

AU - Williams, Jenny

AU - Ziegler, Thomas

AU - Zizka, Alexander

AU - Antonelli, Alexandre

PY - 2022/12/2

Y1 - 2022/12/2

N2 - Madagascar’s unique biota is heavily affected by human activity and is under intense threat. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the conservation status of Madagascar’s terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by presenting data and analyses on documented and predicted species-level conservation statuses, the most prevalent and relevant threats, ex situ collections and programs, and the coverage and comprehensiveness of protected areas. The existing terrestrial protected area network in Madagascar covers 10.4% of its land area and includes at least part of the range of the majority of described native species of vertebrates with known distributions (97.1% of freshwater fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals combined) and plants (67.7%). The overall figures are higher for threatened species (97.7% of threatened vertebrates and 79.6% of threatened plants occurring within at least one protected area). International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments and Bayesian neural network analyses for plants identify overexploitation of biological resources and unsustainable agriculture as the most prominent threats to biodiversity. We highlight five opportunities for action at multiple levels to ensure that conservation and ecological restoration objectives, programs, and activities take account of complex underlying and interacting factors and produce tangible benefits for the biodiversity and people of Madagascar.

AB - Madagascar’s unique biota is heavily affected by human activity and is under intense threat. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the conservation status of Madagascar’s terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by presenting data and analyses on documented and predicted species-level conservation statuses, the most prevalent and relevant threats, ex situ collections and programs, and the coverage and comprehensiveness of protected areas. The existing terrestrial protected area network in Madagascar covers 10.4% of its land area and includes at least part of the range of the majority of described native species of vertebrates with known distributions (97.1% of freshwater fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals combined) and plants (67.7%). The overall figures are higher for threatened species (97.7% of threatened vertebrates and 79.6% of threatened plants occurring within at least one protected area). International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments and Bayesian neural network analyses for plants identify overexploitation of biological resources and unsustainable agriculture as the most prominent threats to biodiversity. We highlight five opportunities for action at multiple levels to ensure that conservation and ecological restoration objectives, programs, and activities take account of complex underlying and interacting factors and produce tangible benefits for the biodiversity and people of Madagascar.

KW - Animals

KW - Humans

KW - Bayes Theorem

KW - Biodiversity

KW - Biota

KW - Endangered Species

KW - Madagascar

KW - Mammals

KW - Plants

U2 - 10.1126/science.adf1466

DO - 10.1126/science.adf1466

M3 - Review article

C2 - 36454830

VL - 378

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 6623

M1 - eadf1466

ER -